Automatic poultry fountain



ug- E0, i948. A. s. DlDET 2,446,695

AUTOMATIC POULTBY FOUNTAIN Filed April 5, 1946 2 Sheets-Shea?I l ugf w 1948' A. s. DIDGET 2,446,695

AUTOMATIC POULTRY FOUNTAIN Filed April 5, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I T f7! By Woll/m "Q @d/Weg me):

Patented Aug. 10, 1948 AUTOMATIC POULTRY FOUNTAIN Adna Stanley Ddget, Cape May Court House, N. J.

Application April 5, 1946, Serial No. 659,898

7 Claims.

The instant invention consists of a novel and improved automatic poultry fountain, and more specifically pertains to a continuously owing watering device for poultry or other live stocks, which is sanitary, durable and efficient.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an automatic drinking fountain which shall be sanitary, strong, efficient in watering fowls and inexpensive to construct and operate.

A very important object of the invention is to devise a fountain which has mean-s to prevent litter from passing into the drain.

Another important object of the invention is the arrangement of the watering device wherein the water control valve is housed for protection from erosion and accidental use in a compartment in the fountain.

A further object of the invention is the formulation of a device in accordance with each of the foregoing objects, which eliminates the necessity for numerous pipe connections and avoids the obtru-sive and awkward display of pipes Vnormally found in devices of this nature.

An additional important object of the invention is the provision of a fountain which is extremely convenient for use by poultry, yet is compact, and has but one water connection in the water bowl.

These, Itogether with numerous other important objects of the invention, which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by my invention, one embodiment of which has been shown by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a top plan view of a drinking fountain.

Figure 2 is a vertical, sectional elevation taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Attention is directed to Figures 1 4, showing the arrangement and construction -of a single drinking fountain in accordance with the principles of my invention. Each drinking fountain, consists of a casing indicated at I having a centrai depending tubular neck portion l2 and an annular sleeve I4 secured to the periphery of the casing le and forming with th-e neck portion I2 an annular compartment or chamber I6 for a purpose to be later described. The sleeve I4 may be formed either as an integral extension of the plastic casing it or may be detachably secured thereto as by screws i8. Any suitable source of water `supply such as that shown at 2U extends from within the supporting surface of the fountain into the compartment I6 and is there provided with manual control valve means 22 and thence extends through a lateral passage by means of a lateral extension 24 into the hollow tubular interior of the neck portion I2 and from thence extends upwardly by means of a fitting 26 having an externally .screw-threaded end portion 28. These threads 28, engage corresponding internal threads upon the nozzle or sleeve 30 which has a water discharge outlet at its upper end as at 32. The sleeve or nozzle 3U may be integrally formed with or may be suitably mechanically united to the water container or bowl 34 which is constructed of a suitable plastic material and is supported as by means of a plurality of depending lugs 36 seated in an annular groove 38 of a peripheral flange or rim 4) which extends upwardly from the casing l0 and concentric with the neck portion l2. As will be understood, the watering bowl 34 andits attached sleeve or nozzle 38 are positioned upon the screw thread 28 and the bowl and nozzle are rotated upon the engaging thread until the lugs 35 are rmly seated in the groove 38, whereby thewatering bowl is firmly supported upon the casing IB. An annular sealing means 42 of a suitable preferably plastic material is secured as at 44 to the upstanding rim of the casing l El and has its lip portion overhanging and yieldingly engaging the rim portion of the bowl 34, whereby the sealing means prevent-s the passage of litter or other material between the bowl and the casing. As shown at 4S, the rim of the bowl 34 has a plurality of drainage. or overflow grooves 46 therein which permit the overflow of water fromthe bowl to pass down into the basin 48 of the casing lil and thence over the annular flange 40 and pass the supporting lug 3E into the neck portion l2 of the casing from thence it is discharged by means of wastepipe 50 in any suitable manner. It should be here noted that the sleeve or nozzle 3|! is so proportioned that its upper end including its ports 32 is disposed slightly above the horizontal plane of the rim of the bowl 34, whereby the continuously flowing water bubbles up over the nozzle and into the bowl and causing in a known manner a constant flow and drainage from the fountain bowl into the drain basin 48 and thence into the waste pipe 50.

Als shown more clearly in Figures 3 and 4, the outer sleeve member l 4 has a door portion 52 controlled by a handle or latch 54 to give access -to the compartment IB, thereby providing access for the hand of the operator to manipulate the valve 22 to thus regulate the constant flow of water. From the foregoing it will be seen that the device provides a housing to protect the water control valve from wearing or weathering by the elements from the erosive effect of poultry droppings, and from accidental contact by either animal or poultry stock or the operator and withal provides a neat and attractive self-contained housing arrangement. ]t will be seen that the annular flange or rim di] provides a means to catch and retain any litter which may pass from the bowl 34 into the 'basin 48 and prevent its entry into the waste pipe from whence it might plug the waste water disposal system. Accumulated litter may be periodically removed from the pocket lsurrounding the peripheral nange i0 by simply removing the sealing means 42 and the watering bowl 34.

I wish it to be understood that 1 do not limit myself to the exact construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, but may avail myself of any modification falling within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A drinking fountain comprising, a shallow plastic bowl, a central water inlet to said bowl, a nozzle on said inlet and terminating abo-ve the rim of said bowl, peripherally spaced overflow grooves in said rim, a supporting casing for said bowl, and an annular plastic sealing ring secured to said supporting casing and overlying the said rim.

2. A drinking fountain comprising, 'a shallow plastic bowl, a central water inlet to said bowl, a nozzle on said inlet and terminating above the rim of said bowl, peripherally spaced overflow grooves in said rim, a supporting casing for said bowl, and an annular plastic sealing ring secured to said supporting casing and overlying the said rim, an overflow draining means within said casing and extending from said overflow grooves to a central outlet in said casing.

3. A drinking fountain comprising, a shallow plastic bowl, a central water inlet to said bowl, a nozzle on said inlet and terminating above the rim of said bowl, peripherally spaced over'ow grooves in said rim, a supporting casing for said bowl, and an annular plastic sealing ring secured to said supporting casing and overlying the said rim, said casing comprising a plastic member constituting a drainage basin receiving and supporting said bowl, a central outlet passage for said basin and an annular litter catching and collecting ridge projecting from said basin and surrounding said outlet.

4. A drinking fountain comprising, a shallow plastic bowl, a central water inlet to said bowl, a nozzle on said inlet and terminating above the rim of said bowl, peripherally spaced overow grooves in said rim, a supporting casing for said bowl, and an annular plastic sealing ring secured to said supporting casing and overlying the said rim, said casing comprising a plastic member constituting a drainage basin receiving and supporting said bowl, a central outlet passage for said basin and an annular litter catching and col lecting ridge projecting from said basin and surrounding said outlet, said ridge constituting a supporting means for said bowl,

5. A drinking fountain comprising, a shallow plastic bowl, a central water inlet to said bowl, a nozzle on said inlet and terminating above the rim of said bowl, peripherally spaced overflow grooves in said rim, a supporting casing for said bowl, and an annular plastic sealing ring secured to said supporting casing and overlying the said rim, said casing comprising a plastic member constituting a drainage basin receiving and supporting said bowl, a central outlet passage for said basin and an annular litter catching and collecting ridge projecting from said basin and surrounding said outlet, said water inlet consisting of a conduit passing laterally into said outlet passage and extending upwardly therefrom into said bowl 6. A drinking fountain comprising, a shallow plastic bowl, a central water inlet to said bowl, a nozzle on said inlet and terminating above the rim of said bowl, peripherally spaced overflow grooves in said rim, a supporting casing for said bowl, and an annular plastic sealing ring secured to said supporting casing and overlying the said rim, said casing comprising a plastic member constituting a drainage basin receiving and supporting' said bowl, a central outlet passage for said basin and an annular litter catching and collecting ridge projecting from said basin and surrounding said outlet, said water inlet consisting of a conduit passing laterally into said outlet passage and extending upwardly therefrom into said bowl, and a compartment in said casing below said basin, a water control valve housed in said compartment, and a door in said compartment giving access to said control valve.

7. A drinking fountain comprising, a shallow plastic bowl, a central water inlet to said bowl, a nozzle on said inlet and terminating above the rim of said bowl, peripherally spaced overflow grooves in said rim, a supporting casing for said bowl, and an annular plastic sealing ring secured to said supporting casing and overlying the said rim, and valve control means housed in each casing' and accessible through a door therein for supplying water to said bowl.

ADNA STANLEY DIDGET.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 588,772 Meeres e Aug. 24, 1897 972,932 Sneak Oct. 18, 1910 l2,239,393 Lipman Apr. 22, 1941 

